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DEL.ICIO.USDo You Dine At the Bar?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Photo: Renee’ Hannans Henry/AJC
Eating at the bar at Shaun’s in Inman Park
“The trouble with the world is that everybody in it is three drinks behind.” — Humphrey Bogart
A recent email from reader Patti Crenshaw of Atlanta poses a perfect question about a growing segment of the hospitlaity industry: Bar eaters. No, they don’t eat the bar — they eat AT it. Here’s what Ms. Crenshaw asked me:
“Ms Ford -
My friends and I were at Sotto Sotto last Saturday and while I can sometimes enjoy eating at a restaurant’s bar, there was absolutely nowhere to sit or stand or order a drink because every space was taken with diners. I am just wondering where it is one drinks anymore since everyone at the bar is eating. I know that I wouldn’t want someone’s drinks being ordered and delivered over my shoulder while I am trying to enjoy dinner and if I am drinking I would really like a place to sit or at least place my cocktail while I wait for a table.
There are times that I am dining alone or in a bit of a rush the bar area can be great for that - usually the staff or the person next to you will talk to you and it is not quite as glaringly obvious as eating at a table by oneself. However, I try to pick places with a large bar area on quiet nights so that everyone can enjoy their bar experience. It just seems more and more common for people to dine at the bar because the wait is long or they didn’t make a reservation and those who want to use the bar for its designated purpose are out of luck.
I am curious as to your thoughts on this matter - is a designated eating area at the bar the answer? My favorite restaurant in St. Simons has tables that are first come, first serve at all times for this purpose - I wonder if more places could exercise that option? I guess I just want it all - a bar for drinking and for the occasional meal if it doesn’t intrude on someone else’s restaurant experience. Is that too much to ask?
Patti Crenshaw”
I like Patti’s idea of having a designated area for folks eating without a reservation, but a lot of restaurants just don’t have the space for that sort of thing.
And color me guilty: I love to eat at the bar, especially if it’s just me or me plus one.
What’s your take? Should the bar just be for drinks, should there be some section of the bar just for drinks, or is this just another fight that has no winner?
Looking for great bar perches? Check out Bob Townsend’s picks from last fall’s access atlanta.
Permalink | Comments (18) | Post your comment | Categories: Dining
Comments
By Sassy
February 19, 2008 11:53 AM | Link to this
I just recently enjoyed my Valentine’s dinner at the bar. My boyfriend and I decided to go out at the last minute, and being the holiday … anyway, it was awesome. The bartender was very attentive and we never had to worry ‘where was the wait staff’.
By ruben
February 19, 2008 11:53 AM | Link to this
I actually think eating at the bar is the best way to get good service fast. Depending on the bar and the hour there, of course. The reason I will choose a bar to eat at 9 times out of 10 (if the bar has 2 seats) is that the waitresses always seem to be so busy or most places are short staffed. My patience for drinks delivered when ordered can only sustain for 5 minutes. So usually the bar is the best choice for me and my wife.
By ruben
February 19, 2008 11:55 AM | Link to this
I actually think eating at the bar is the best way to get good service fast. Depending on the bar and the hour there, of course. The reason I will choose a bar to eat at 9 times out of 10 (if the bar has 2 seats) is that the waitresses always seem to be so busy or most places are short staffed. My patience for drinks delivered when ordered can only sustain for 5 minutes. So usually the bar is the best choice for me and my wife.
By Rodney
February 19, 2008 12:44 PM | Link to this
I don’t mind it at all, especially when I’m alone (party of one, please?). If I’m out with someone, and especially more than one someone, I find that eating at the bar is very cumbersome for conversing and “visiting”.
In that instance I would much rather wait for a table.
I’m not sure I’d vote “YAY” to a drinks-only-at-the-bar rule but I can understand how having to fight a row of diners for a drinks can be irritating. Then again, it is never any fun trying to eat with people constantly reaching over you to grab a martini - and potentially spill it in your plate!
So no definitive answer - let’s all just eat, drink and be as merry as we can!
By Capt Bill
February 19, 2008 1:02 PM | Link to this
As a frequent traveler, I eat at the bar every chance I get. I have excellent service,and good conversation. As an added bonus, there are no obnoxious kids to listen to. I have made many friends while eating at the bar. Always a plus for me to have a meal at the bar.
By DYJ
February 19, 2008 1:20 PM | Link to this
Best kept secret…eating at the bar.
By Carri
February 19, 2008 1:20 PM | Link to this
My husband travels a lot for business and doesn’t mind eating at the bar at most places. I, on the otherhand, would not like to do that, as I am not as outgoing as he is and don’t really want to talk to strangers over dinner. I also don’t like to be out drinking and socializing at the bar with my friends and get a whiff of someone’s fish dinner next to me.
The bar is for drinking and socializing and the tables are for eating!
By FCM
February 19, 2008 1:28 PM | Link to this
Facts are facts….and fact is that drinks in the bar area before dinner, are largerly a thing of the past….Patti Crenshaw needs to get over it….If the bar has open area and can serve food there…it becomes a dining space….bigger tix for the bartender, more tip for bartender, bigger tix for the establishment, better profit margin.
It’s the price we pay to keep moving forward.
By Jim
February 19, 2008 1:32 PM | Link to this
I can never eat anywhere BUT the bar..err..counter. All the booths have signs saying they’re “reserved for 2 or more”
I guess I either need to patronize a better class of dining establishment or to increase my circle of friends?
By meridith ford
February 19, 2008 2:12 PM | Link to this
Hey FCM: thanks for the thoughts, but Patti doesn’t need to “get over” anything — she’s just posing a question and offering one solution. Rodney may be right — there’s just no definitive answer here.
By J
February 19, 2008 2:14 PM | Link to this
When eating by myself the bar is the best bet. Also my bar of choice for eating not drinking has 2 plasma screens w/the game on. It’s not a sports bar food is great and I still get the game. If I’m with a buddy the bar is fine as well. With a Lady friend the bar is no good a booth is more comfortable and private for conversations.
By LR
February 19, 2008 2:28 PM | Link to this
The only reason that I eat at the bar is to not feel awkard when I’m on a solo business trip and have to eat alone!! And now the Patti Crenshaws of the world want me to feel awkard there too? The nerve of some people!!!
By JA
February 19, 2008 2:30 PM | Link to this
I recently ate at the bar at Cheesecake Factory because the wait was crazy. It was a great experience. Your waiter/bartender is never more than 5 feet from you. Besides the server area, there is another area where patrons can order drinks too. I think that idea works well. It probably means one less seat at the bar, but that seems like a fair trade off. Though regardless of how we feel, it’s the restaurant’s decision as to what to do. If they’re losing liquor money because no one is ordering drinks while they wait, I’m sure they would stop full service dinner. Clearly that’s not the case. I know that I have no problem ordering a drink “over” a diner if need be. I’m polite about it, and I’ve never had a bar diner have an issue with it.
By HS Teacher
February 19, 2008 2:33 PM | Link to this
When I travel, I often will accept a seat at the bar rather than wait an hour or more for a table. It is just me and like others, I have almost always found the service to be excellent.
I was seated after a 5 min wait at Paula Deans in Savannah. There was no way I would stand in line for more than 2 hours to eat.
By Mary in Mt Park
February 19, 2008 5:24 PM | Link to this
I love eating at the bar if it has elbow room and comfortable barstools. Since I’ve always had a secret desire to be a bartender, I enjoy watching the professionals behind the bar. We have several favorite “bars” where we like to drink and eat (Bistro VG, Aspens, The Palm). A couple weekends ago we had a fabulous “bar” dinner at The Twisted Oak in Monroe, GA. It is a gorgeous restaurant in the historic downtown. The bar is upstairs and quite comfortable. The food was great and the bartender really knew his stuff. Everything about the experience rivaled any of our favorite restaurants in Atlanta. Best of all, we had a room in the adjacent hotel (also a wonderful experience) so we didn’t have to drive home.
By Phil
February 20, 2008 12:23 PM | Link to this
Wow, pick another battle. “Too many people eating at the bar”? Maybe our next president can look into this crisis. Pesky bar eaters!
By Rodney
February 20, 2008 2:25 PM | Link to this
C’mon Phil … this is the “Table Talk” section not “Soap Box”, “Book Page” or even “Chatter”.
It’s “Table Talk” - we talk about dining, eating, etc. People don’t think of us as traditionally world-changing or even socially relevant (although some of us would voraciously disagree to that point).
Maybe you could jump over to the “Political Insider” for more engrossing and important fare if you feel you’re not being sated here?
By al
February 21, 2008 11:52 AM | Link to this
Simple: If I go into a place & I'm not happy there, I LEAVE! You sound like a whinny DEM/LIB